Re: CCA product information was: Plastic Lumber

**"* T* <m*@hort.net>**

Well, since I'm sure Lon is getting antsy about the duration of this
topic, let me refer anyone who is interested to the AWPI (American
Wood Preservers Institute).  They are part of the AWPA (American
Wood-Preservers' Association) http://www.awpa.com/  site. These are
the folks who set the standards which are used to specify treated
wood in the construction industry.  When treated wood products are
sold by reputable dealers, they all have a AWPA tag on them.  

AWPI has a lot of information on their preserved wood.com site.  Go
to the main AWPA site for information about the specification
standards, etc., and links to preservative manufacturers sites and
other sources of industry information.  

This page (which takes you to the  AWPI site) may be of interest to
those of you unsure about just what CCA wood is being, and will
continue to be, used and for what purposes:

Examples of Products That May Be Treated With CCA After December 31,
2003

http://www.preservedwood.com/news/020216ccalist.html

The listed products, are, I am certain, available and used
country-wide.  Changes in preservative  treatment for certain types
of general consumer use have been voluntary (I think this was pointed
out in one of the posts on this thread).  However, you will see that
CCA treated plywood is still used in both residential and commercial
buildings. 

Obviously, the industry saw the writing on the wall and decided to
protect themselves before the litigation started, whether or not
there was any valid technical reason for changing anything.  I have
not done exhaustive research on this topic, but what I have read has
not shown any hard data indicating that CCA treated wood products are
harmful when handled properly.   

The Treated Wood Council also has a FAQ sheet in .pdf format on CCA
preserved wood:

http://www.awc.org/pdf/TWCFactBook.pdf

Yes, it is produced by a group with an interest in treated wood, but
they are also one of the main sources of knowledge about treated wood
using any treatment process.   One can, if one wishes, follow up all
the quotes in the FAQ to the source and then make a judgment about
the reliability of the source:-)

When we write about this topic, we need to make certain we are
referencing core resources so that we have our facts absolutely
straight:-)  Media reports can be interesting, but when it comes down
to what is actually being bought, sold and installed, you need to
check the current standards of the industry involved.  

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@hort.net
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----------
> From: JoanRRosenberg@aol.com
> 
> I have had some experience with the artificial deck and it has
great use in marine applications.  It appears to be nontoxic across
the board if made correctly.  Also the majority of treated wood has
not been cca processed for a while, this business of arsenic has
popped up many years ago, and most of the wood for sale as treated
lumber was not cca, or at least in my area anyway.  I thought they
were silly to outlaw creosote, it just had to be handled correctly.
CCA was the replacement for creosote, and I never liked it.  The
chemical replacement for cca does not last as long as either cca or
creosote, and most people who want functional fencing to hold
livestock have figured out other methods.  

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